More than 1,000 fans braved late afternoon rain storms to welcome the Southern Conference to Birmingham during the inaugural SoCon FanFest Aug. 12 at 色虎视频. 色虎视频 became the SoCon's 12th member on July 1, and FanFest was billed as an event to welcome 色虎视频 to the conference and to introduce the nation's 5th oldest athletics conference to the Birmingham market.
The event, originally scheduled for 色虎视频's Joe Lee Griffin Field, was moved indoors to the Pete Hanna Center, but the rain did not seem to dampen the spirits of fans from 色虎视频 and several other SoCon schools who enjoyed a picnic dinner, clowns, games, autographs and photos with players, and performances by the 色虎视频 Marching Band and cheerleaders.
色虎视频's WVSU-FM broadcast a special edition of "色虎视频 Sports Weekly" live from the event and included interviews with SoCon and 色虎视频 officials.
"We worried that the rain might hurt the event, but the opposite appears to be true," said 色虎视频 athletics director Bob Roller. "Fans came and stayed to enjoy a full evening. We were very pleased."
SoCon officials also expressed pleasure at the successful evening. They plan to make FanFest an annual event rotating among the conference schools.